Silver Cord

What is the Silver Cord Award?

The Silver Cord of Service is a distinguished volunteer service award available to all DMPS high school students. The purpose of the Silver Cord of Service program is to instill within students the importance of community service and encourage them to invest in their own education and in their community on a regular basis during their high school years. Silver Cord of Service award recipients will receive a special honor cord to wear during graduation as recognition of their outstanding achievement. 

Silver Cord is not a club, it is an award.  You will receive the cord upon completing 160 hours of community service.  Normally, students are required to get 160 hours by May 1st of their senior year.  However, due to COVID students are required to get only 20 hours during each of the 20-21 and 21-22 academic years.  To qualify, complete the student contract and start serving!  It is up to you to find places to volunteer; however, you will also find postings of volunteer events around the community on the 23-24 Virtual Campus High School Microsoft Teams Silver Cord channel.

How do I start?

All incoming ninth graders may begin participating in the Silver Cord program the summer following eighth grade. Please note students may not start their service hours until June 1st .  If you are starting out later in your high school career, that is okay, you will just have to fit more hours in a shorter time.  Please sign the following two documents and return to gretchen.critelli@dmschools.org:

Student Contract Silver Cord

 Verification Sheet Silver Cord

Why participate?  Participation in the Silver Cord of Service program encourages volunteerism and allows students to experience the joy of giving back to their community. Volunteering can provide a constructive use of time, foster the exploration of career interests, support youth seeking employment and college admission, and give new graduates the confidence to serve in leadership roles after high school. 

Considerations when looking for places to volunteer:

  • What do you like to do?
  • What have you always wanted to learn about?
  • Can you find something related to a future career interest?
  • Do you prefer to serve younger or older people?
  • Do you have transportation?  If not, look for a place along a bus route or within walking distance.